Comprehensive survey of coherent astrophysical electric-field statistics

Conduct a comprehensive survey of the electric-field statistics of coherent astrophysical sources to determine whether non-stochastic sources could overwhelm cumulant-based SETI searches.

Background

Cumulant imaging relies on the assumption that most astrophysical emission is stochastic and therefore has vanishing higher-order cumulants. The paper discusses pulsars, masers, and scintillating sources as possible exceptions, but notes that observational measurements of high-order statistics are sparse.

A comprehensive survey is unresolved and is important because previously unconsidered coherent or otherwise non-stochastic astrophysical sources could produce contaminating cumulant signals. Such sources might either limit SETI searches or become scientifically valuable targets in their own right.

References

There are a few observations of the fourth cumulant for coherent emitters as discussed in \S\ref{sec:coherent}, but I do not know of a comprehensive survey of the electric-field statistics of coherent astrophysical sources.

— Identifying Casual SETI Transmissions and Ultra-Faint RFI with Cumulant Imaging  (2609.04472 - Morales, 3 Sep 2026) in Section 8, “Coherent Astrophysical Sources”; Section 10, “Conclusion”